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EBay/241761; nnnnnn or numui i UNITED STATES pagrmvr orricn .PETER BEINHALTER, 0F WILKES-BAB-RE, PENNSYLVANIA.

BELT-COUPLING.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER REINHALTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at ll ilkes-Barre, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Belt-Coupler, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to belt, cable or rope couplers, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that character for coupling the ends of a sewing machine belt together, or for attaching or uniting the ends of other belts, cable, ropes or the like, in order that they may be employed in the usual manner.

It is also the object of the present invention to provide a coupler of the character indicated consisting of two elements, each of which is fashioned from a blank of sheet metal, the two elements or parts being adapted to interlock in such a manner as to provide a flexible connection thus permitting the belt or the like to pass around groove pulleys or otherwise follow a circuitous path.

The present invention also aims to provide a coupler as indicated, the parts of which may be readily interlocked and detached, and which may be readily attached and detached to and from the ends of the belt or the like, thus permitting the belt to be shortened.

With the foregoing general objects outlined, and with other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the' spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein similar reference characters have been employed to denote corresponding parts, and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the coupler as applied to the ends of the belt. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the coupler. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the coupler, showing the parts thereof in position to be detached or attached. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the two parts of the coupler are fashiOned. Fig. 5 is a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 4, 1912.

noted by the numeral 7,

Patented May 26, 191

Serial No. 734,951.

plan view of the blank severed to provide the two elements and stamped to provide the screw threads.

Referring specifically to the drawing, each part or element of the coupler comprises a collar or sleeve 6 of and split longitudinally at one side as dethe collar having a hook 8 projecting from the side opposite the split with the tip 9 projecting toward and terminating close to or directly adjoining the end of the split 7, or the end of the collar at a point diametrically opposite the butt end of the hook. The edges of the hook also blend or merge gently into the end of the collar, as denoted by the numeral 10, so as to brace the hook in order that the hook will be substantial or rigid to overcome the stress or tension to which the belt is subject. The intermediate portion or bend of each as denoted by the numeral 11, in order to further reinforce the hook and in order to provide a curved bearing surface so that the suitable length hook is also co-ncaved transversely two hooks may interlock properly to provide a flexible or universal connection. Each of the elements is also provided with an aperture or opening 12 at the butt end of the hook through which a suitable implement may be inserted for turning the collar or sleeve.

The collars or sleeves 6 are provided with external and internal screw threads, the blanks from which the collars are formed, being pressed or stamped so as to provide transverse corrugations, which when the blanks are bent into shape, causes the end of the corrugations to meet so as to provide continuous threads from end to end. The elements or parts as thus provided may readily be stamped or fashioned from sheet metal or other similar stock, and the parts being duplicates or of like construction may be inexpensively manufactured, as well as preventing confusion in the attachment of the parts to the ends of the belt. The hooks are/ of uniform thickness throughout.

Each element is of such construction as to lie within the compass of the belt so as not to provide any unnecessary protuberances or to otherwise encum er the belt. The hooks of the two elements are adapted to interlock, the engagement and disengagement of the elements being effected by bringing them at an acute angle relative to each other as depicted in Fig. 3, in order that the tips of the hooks may pass each other. However, by bending the hooks slightly so that the tips are in contact with the end of the collars, the two elements may be permanently locked together in order to prevent their detachment unless the tips of the hooks are bent away from the ends of the collars, the tips of the hooks being Hat and flexible. The collars may be readily threaded onto the ends of the belt so as to be securely retained in position, and at any time, should the belt stretch or require shortening, one or both of the collars may be removed, thus permitting a piece of the belt to be cut ofi", in which event, the collar or collars may be again attached. terbearing surfaces of the hooks are such as to permit the coupling to flex so that the coupling may readily pass over grooved pulleys or the like, the connection between the hooks providing a universal joint of high efliciency. It will be noted that the hooks in being transversely concaved at their bends or intermediate portions permit the elements to swing relative to each other in various directions, as well as bracing the hooks against bending due to the tension or the belt.

The present coupler may not only be employed for connecting the ends of a sewing machine belt, but may be employed in connection with various other belts, cables, ropes and the like.

The numerous advantages and capabilities of the present coupler will be clearly The in- Y apparent to those versed in the art, and need not be described at lengtl The coupler elements, as heretofore stated, are preferably stamped or fashioned from sheet metal, and after they are formed, are preferably tempered or ca e hardened for purpose of wear and rigidity. If desired, the coupler elements may be otherwise finished, such as by plating, oxidizing or the like, for purpose of appearance and protection.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 2* A coupler embodying a pair of duplicate elements each fashioned from a sheet metal blank and comprising a longitudinally split collar having lateral corrugations, the ends of the corrugations meeting to provide a continuous thread extending from end to end, and the collar having a hook projecting from the side opposite the split, the edges of the hook merging into the end of the collar, the intermediate portion of the hook being transversely concaved, the tip of the hook being fiat and flexible and terminating adjacent the ends of the collar, the hook being of uniform thickness throughout, and the hooks of the two elements being interlockable.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signa ture in the presence of two witnesses.

PETER REINHALTER. lVitnesses F RANK B. BROWN, M. J. RUDY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. U. 

